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From The Files Of Criminal Robbery: Case #7- Simon Despres

By Jeff Henning

Mar 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres (24) controls the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres (24) controls the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Revisiting The Simon Despres Trade

At the last season’s trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins were looking to bolster their roster in the hopes that they were destined to win their 4th Stanley Cup in franchise history. This imperceptive view of the roster, in an attempt to conquer tremendous ambition, led Penguin’s GM Jim Rutherford to make a very costly negotiation that has indubitably found itself tabbed in the files of ‘Criminal Robbery.”

May 8, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres (24) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period in game four of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Anaheim Ducks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres (24) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period in game four of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Anaheim Ducks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Through 59 games played in the 2014-2015 NHL regular season, the aforementioned Rutherford had a clear vision of what the Penguins were as a team. On March 1st, the team was 36-17-9 and clearly looking like a solid playoff contender. Not only was the offense playing well, but the defense was starting to like look a formidable unit, from top to bottom. Although not playing on the top pairing, former first round pick Simon Despres and veteran Rob Scuderi were excelling as a unit. While Scuderi played more of a tighter defensive game, Despres was able to jump in more on the offensive end. In fact, through 59 games with the Penguins, Despres was on pace to set career highs in both goals and points even though his TOI was reduced by close to 30 seconds per game.

This should’ve confirmed to Pittsburgh’s brass that Despres was:

Despres essentially was who the Penguins thought he was when they drafted him in the 1st round of 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Despres could bring offensive touch to a physical brand of defense with the prototypical size and build. The 6’4” defender was the perfect pick for the Penguins moving forward and he would get his first taste of NHL action during the ’11-’12 season in which he registered 4 points in 18 appearances, including 1 goal and a +5 rating. Depres would go on to post 46 points in 67 games spread out over the next 2 seasons. Make no mistake, Despres was enjoying his finest season to date, with potential to grow into something even greater.

All of these aforementioned stats were laid out in front of Jim Rutherford on March 2nd. It must’ve been the thrill of ambition that clouded his judgement while speaking to Anaheim Duck’s GM Bob Murray. It was later in the afternoon and the proverbial ‘final bell’ was going to ring, signifying the end of the trading period. Earlier in the day, the Penguins agreed to a very reasonable deal with the St. Louis Blues that sent depth D Robert Bortuzzo and a 7th round pick to St. Louis in return for former 1st round pick Ian Cole.

Feb 20, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Anaheim Ducks won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Anaheim Ducks won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Rutherford must’ve eaten a lot of chex mix during that deadline because not only was he bold, but Jim Rutherford was about to make a move that would leave all passionate Penguins fans salty and upset. He proceeded to trade young defenseman Simon Despres to the Anaheim Ducks. In return, the Ducks would send back former Penguin and veteran defenseman Ben Lovejoy.

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Aside from his bond-villain-esque last name, the Penguins already knew exactly what Lovejoy was. A solid depth defenseman, Lovejoy couldn’t offer the promise of potential that say a younger defenseman possesses, and so the Penguins traded Lovejoy to Anaheim in 2013 for a 5th round draft pick. It should’ve ended there, but much in the same way a Bond film develops, there was a surprise in store.

Fast forward to January 2016 and it’s safe to say that the Ducks won this trade by a margin comparable to the distance between Anaheim and Pittsburgh. Ben Lovejoy has been mediocre at best while Simon Despres is about to enter his next contract which will pay him 3.7 million for the next 5 years. It was clear that in the 3 months the Ducks had him, he was well worth keeping around. But, Jim Rutherford was in the dreaded ‘win-now’ mode and in some way Ben Lovejoy was a more appealing option heading into last season’s playoffs.

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